Made in Dagenham star Gemma Arterton fights for equality in film and TV

She is about to play a women’s rights activist in the new West End musical Made In Dagenham, and life will imitate art for Gemma Arterton after she revealed she has begun her own fight for equality in the acting world.

The 28-year-old actress believes sexism is still a problem in film and television, but hopes that her new production company will help by creating more roles for women. She will play the lead role in Made In Dagenham which, like the 2010 film, is based on the true story of the women workers at Dagenham Ford car plant who fought for equal pay.

She told the Standard: “What they fought for in Dagenham was equal pay for equal work. But it’s quite hard to know what equal work is in the acting world because, for example, a lead actor might get loads of money because he’s going to help sell the film. So it’s quite up for debate.

“But there is definitely still inequality in the film and TV industry. There’s not as many female directors, people behind the cameras, writers or producers. So that’s something I’m interested in changing. My production company’s geared towards that. We’re using female writers on the first project and maybe a female director. In my mind, that’s where the imbalance is — there just aren’t as many parts for women. No one’s writing them and no one’s saying yes to the scripts that offer them.” Arterton, who has set up Rebel Park Productions with two female friends, said she considers herself a feminist, and believes attitudes towards the tag have changed. She said: “There’s this whole new wave feminism that’s happening which makes it a lot more accessible. I’m proud to be a feminist.”